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‘This Is Us’ Casts Phylicia Rashad as Beth’s Mom

Talk about dream casting! Just when you think NBC‘s monster hit series This Is Us can’t get any better, they cast one of television’s most beloved moms to play Beth’s (Susan Kelechi Watson) mother Carol. Reported exclusively by the fine folks at Entertainment Weekly,The Cosby Show‘s matriarch Mrs. Clair Huxtable herself – Phylicia Rashad – will appear later this season in an episode that will offer viewers more backstory to Beth’s past.

Series showrunner Dan Fogelman took to Twitter to express his excitement over Rashad’s casting – and that filming is already complete:

From The Cosby Show to Psych, Rashad’s no-nonsense and nurturing motherly touch offers much-needed inspiration and comfort. She is exactly the person we envision raising Beth – a strong, smart, caring and independent woman who deserves respect. Beth has had a rough year: she lost her job and felt patronized working on Randall’s (Sterling K. Brown) campaign – eventually giving him an ultimatum. This shocking twist in Beth and Randall’s relationship makes us very nervous for the future – especially considering that last mysterious flash-forward alluded to their eventual break-up.

THIS IS US — “The Beginning is the End is the Beginning” Episode 309 — Pictured: (l-r) Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth, Sterling K. Brown as Randall — (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)

I am so not ready for their marriage to fall apart. Beth and Randall set relationship goals as lofty as Rebecca (Mandy Moore) and Jack (Milo Ventimiglia). Toby (Chris Sullivan) and Kate (Chrissy Metz) also joined the ranks with their sweet, supportive, and inspiring marriage. Even Kevin (Justin Hartley) started progressing in the relationship department by opening up to Beth’s cousin Zoe (Melanie Liburd).

*Sigh* I suppose we’re going to need another box of tissues (or three) on hand when This Is Us resumes kicking us squarely in the feels when it returns to NBC on Tuesday, January 15th, at 9 p.m. ET.

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